India weighs options as West tries to corner Syria

Proposal to refer Syria to UNSC to come up before IAEA soon

India is weighing its options as the West tries to report Syria to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a move that could upset the delicate balance in West Asia amid unrest in many countries in the region.

The U.S.-piloted proposal to refer Syria to the UNSC may come up before the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the coming week. Syria, an anathema to some western countries, is already under sanctions by some of them after the U.S. failed to convince the UNSC to go for global sanctions for alleged human rights abuses during public protests.

The latest attempt to corner Syria has been triggered by an IAEA report that felt that a building bombed by Israeli jets in 2007 should have been declared by Damascus because “it was very likely a nuclear reactor.''

“The West is obviously building up the issue. It is an old issue at the IAEA which had asked for access while Syria denies the bombed building [which was later levelled] was a nuclear reactor. This will be discussed next week. India is studying…,'' said government sources.

“In principle, India would not support the raising of the matter at the UNSC,'' felt Chinmaya Gharekhan, India's Special Envoy to the Prime Minister for West Asia. “Syria is not proved to be in violation…the IAEA report spoke of “likelihood.” But one would have to wait for the text of the draft resolution.''

Asked to asses the game plan of the West, Mr. Gharekhan felt the western countries in general would be quite happy to break Syria's relations with Iran by hoping for a regime change.

Though Iran would lose its most important ally in the region, the implications of a regime change would be much wider. “The Hamas leadership is based there. What will happen to its supporters in case of a regime change? The Hezbollah in Lebanon is sustained through Syria. In case of a regime change in favour of the West, there will be region-wise repercussions. In the interest of stability, the international community should be supportive of any regime there.''

At the same time, he pointed out that Syria was a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and should abide by its obligations by cooperating with the IAEA.

“If this was a clandestine activity, like that of Iran, it is certainly a violation of the NPT. In this case, India's position should be that Syria must scrupulously abide by its obligations.''

On the other hand, Syria could drag in Israel by raising the question of having a nuclear weapons free zone (NWFZ) in this volatile region.

“Arab countries and others would want to raise the issue of an NWFZ and bring Israel into the picture [Israel does not comment on its nuclear weapon status]. If I were in Cairo, I would be thinking along those lines,'' said Mr. Gharekhan.

Reports from Vienna have already spoken of doubts being expressed by members of the Non-Aligned Movement about the wisdom of bringing in a resolution at this time. The IAEA Board can refer Syria to the UNSC which has already slapped four rounds of sanctions on Iran after an IAEA referral.